I'd go with the pinky streach only because it has mad 3 fret shredding capabilities. It's a lot easier in my opinion (not to mention I have "banana mits").
peace.
peace.
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Major Scale Pattern
- Thread starter wannabe_bassist
- Start date
Originally posted by wannabe_bassist
My goal is not to sit on a bench stool in the Starbucks section of the local Borders playing "not zesty" (remember the Taco Bell commercial with the guy sitting on the grass playing lame guitar to his liberal girlfriend?) bass solos. I just wanna ROCK. I understand this takes time and effort.
I have a day job in the computer field and have no intentions on becoming a professional bassist even if I could gain the talent. I just want to "rock out" with my fellow coworkers in our little garage band.
I am slowly finding the fast way to achieve that goal. I don't particularly care about "doing it the right way" and "learning bad habits", etc.
If I hang my thumb over the top from time to time, so what. If I attended college for music, then I would probably receive F's.
How many bass players cannot type (much less 50+ wpm) yet want to use a computer?!?!?! They are always so damn impatient and want to take shortcuts like using a mouse.
They buy a computer and expect to start using it right away. Yet they never spend hours in the woodshed doing "asdf jkl;" over and over learning to type. Why should it be different for the bass (or any other instrument)?
I have had two bass teachers now who refuse to teach me anything other than chromatic exercises for weeks on end. I realize that both were milking me for $$$ rather than holding back real knowledge for the sake of any ideology, but still.....
Do you all see the parallel here?
And that's the way to eternally remain a "wannabe"......
But you should at least see my point in regards to the computer analogy.
I spent many weeks doing "asdf jkl;" about 25 years ago. It was mindless at the time and was intentionally made to "not be fun". Yet today, there are all sorts of "fun" ways to learn how to type, new software, better instruction with emphasis on making the typing students maintain interest in learning and having fun.
You would think that musical instrument instruction would have evolved in a similar way. This has not been the case in the few instances that I have been exposed to so far. But try finding a bass instructor in south florida! The bulk of the population here only wants to here Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and Frank Sinatra.
If only I lived next door to Pacman!
I am not saying there should be instant shortcuts to great playing. Totally unrealistic, to say the least. But there is no excuse for mindless chromatic exercises with NO other topics covered during endless lessons. If I sat any non-typing musician down in front of a keyboard and had them perform endless hours/weeks of "chromatic" keyboard typing exercises (asdf asdf jkl; jkl, should I be surprised if they get bored and quit. Probably not. As teacher, should I not attempt to inspire them, mix it up a little and show the student something "cool" to work on as well. After all, as a teacher, realistically, I have two goals:
1. Teach the student the topic
2. Make $$$.
Keeping the student progressing and interested will obtain both goals as he will eventually learn the topic (#1) and will be coming back for more (#2). Student is happy, teacher is happy.
Must bass lessons be so boring and "not fun" that the student looses interest and quits in disgust.
It kills me to see those commercials on TV about how music programs suffer and need help. Hello! Ever wonder why?!?! When I went through those years, guitar (bass and "plain") and drums were scorned (and probably still are). Why teach the clarinet to students when they want to learn the "popular" instruments? Electric bass and guitar were instruments of satan and devil worshippers when I went through school. Flute, clarinet, tuba, and others were the only ones allowed. They were the only respectable instruments (nose in the air).
Walk into any music store and there are more ukeleles on display than tuba, clarinet, flute.
I assume that most of you all had music instruction during school, excelled at it and enjoy the fruits of that labor now. You worked hard for it, you earned it and have every right to enjoy it.
I spent many weeks doing "asdf jkl;" about 25 years ago. It was mindless at the time and was intentionally made to "not be fun". Yet today, there are all sorts of "fun" ways to learn how to type, new software, better instruction with emphasis on making the typing students maintain interest in learning and having fun.
You would think that musical instrument instruction would have evolved in a similar way. This has not been the case in the few instances that I have been exposed to so far. But try finding a bass instructor in south florida! The bulk of the population here only wants to here Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and Frank Sinatra.
If only I lived next door to Pacman!
I am not saying there should be instant shortcuts to great playing. Totally unrealistic, to say the least. But there is no excuse for mindless chromatic exercises with NO other topics covered during endless lessons. If I sat any non-typing musician down in front of a keyboard and had them perform endless hours/weeks of "chromatic" keyboard typing exercises (asdf asdf jkl; jkl
, should I be surprised if they get bored and quit. Probably not. As teacher, should I not attempt to inspire them, mix it up a little and show the student something "cool" to work on as well. After all, as a teacher, realistically, I have two goals:1. Teach the student the topic
2. Make $$$.
Keeping the student progressing and interested will obtain both goals as he will eventually learn the topic (#1) and will be coming back for more (#2). Student is happy, teacher is happy.
Must bass lessons be so boring and "not fun" that the student looses interest and quits in disgust.
It kills me to see those commercials on TV about how music programs suffer and need help. Hello! Ever wonder why?!?! When I went through those years, guitar (bass and "plain") and drums were scorned (and probably still are). Why teach the clarinet to students when they want to learn the "popular" instruments? Electric bass and guitar were instruments of satan and devil worshippers when I went through school. Flute, clarinet, tuba, and others were the only ones allowed. They were the only respectable instruments (nose in the air).
Walk into any music store and there are more ukeleles on display than tuba, clarinet, flute.
I assume that most of you all had music instruction during school, excelled at it and enjoy the fruits of that labor now. You worked hard for it, you earned it and have every right to enjoy it.
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,409
- 9,867
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
Originally posted by wannabe_bassist
You would think that musical instrument instruction would have evolved in a similar way. This has not been the case in the few instances that I have been exposed to so far. But try finding a bass instructor in south florida! The bulk of the population here only wants to here Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and Frank Sinatra.
If only I lived next door to Pacman!
I got news for you
If you took lessons from me, it'd be pretty traditional. Sight reading, styles, SCALES and soloing.And watch it, sonny, I LOVE Bennett, Torme and Sinatra! :geezer:
That's cool.
I would welcome the challenge.
Mel Torme............really? You look much younger in the avatar.
Snowbird Season (as it is called) is ending soon. The majority of the elderly / retired population flock back north to avoid the heat. Summer time is rock time.
Hey, I can listen to any music (Eminem to Ann Murray).....except country music.
Isn't there a magical bass playing pill? Bassagra or something like that. Can't I just be a rockstar without all the hard work?!?!
Actually I can play all sorts of scales/modes in 2 octaves all over the bass. Still some hesitation, bad note here and there, etc. But showing progress. But ........ now what. How do I put that to use? Perhaps that is the "art" in playing as opposed to the "mechanics".
I can play some Judas Priest tunes with our garage band of mid-lifers but that hardly (IMHO) makes me a bass player. Uncomplicated quarter notes rarely straying from the root, even Mark Hoppus has tougher basslines and at a faster tempo.
And while I probably overstated my point in an earlier post, I was trying to say that my personal goal is not to reach the playing level of Pacman, for example. Reality is that I will NEVER reach his level, even if I quit my job and focused 100% on bass playing. And I cannot quit my job, so chances are even slimmer. From his BIO, like many of you, he has spent his ENTIRE life playing bass and making music. It would be unrealistic for me to think I could attain that level with a fraction of the time he has spent on it. My time is somewhat limited as this is more of a hobby. Albeit one I enjoy greatly.
However, I was hoping that I could achieve some level of playing ability and knowledge over that of "wannabe". I have learned more about music theory than I ever thought I could prior to my foray into bass guitar.
But the goal is to learn, play and have fun. I am achieving that nearly every time our garage band gets together.
I would welcome the challenge.
Mel Torme............really? You look much younger in the avatar.
Snowbird Season (as it is called) is ending soon. The majority of the elderly / retired population flock back north to avoid the heat. Summer time is rock time.
Hey, I can listen to any music (Eminem to Ann Murray).....except country music.
Isn't there a magical bass playing pill? Bassagra or something like that. Can't I just be a rockstar without all the hard work?!?!
Actually I can play all sorts of scales/modes in 2 octaves all over the bass. Still some hesitation, bad note here and there, etc. But showing progress. But ........ now what. How do I put that to use? Perhaps that is the "art" in playing as opposed to the "mechanics".
I can play some Judas Priest tunes with our garage band of mid-lifers but that hardly (IMHO) makes me a bass player. Uncomplicated quarter notes rarely straying from the root, even Mark Hoppus has tougher basslines and at a faster tempo.
And while I probably overstated my point in an earlier post, I was trying to say that my personal goal is not to reach the playing level of Pacman, for example. Reality is that I will NEVER reach his level, even if I quit my job and focused 100% on bass playing. And I cannot quit my job, so chances are even slimmer. From his BIO, like many of you, he has spent his ENTIRE life playing bass and making music. It would be unrealistic for me to think I could attain that level with a fraction of the time he has spent on it. My time is somewhat limited as this is more of a hobby. Albeit one I enjoy greatly.
However, I was hoping that I could achieve some level of playing ability and knowledge over that of "wannabe". I have learned more about music theory than I ever thought I could prior to my foray into bass guitar.
But the goal is to learn, play and have fun. I am achieving that nearly every time our garage band gets together.
Nope!!
So - yes lots of people can mess about on a computer without learning anything - but how many of these can actually do anything useful - i.e. NOT just hanging around on TalkBass or playing games?
- So - if I want to be able to use Data Mining Software to perform Statistical analysis on large amounts of data - then I will go on a training course, to be taught by experts in the field.
And I would need to work on this for a long period and probably will need a degree in statistics to produce anything worthwhile ....
- but just hanging around on a PC time-wasting takes no training!!
This sounds like a better analogy to me!!
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,409
- 9,867
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
Hey Wanna be,
I'm only 34, but I like that music!
It is not unrealistic to think you could play at my level! First, you've never heard me play - I'm nothing special - and second, all it takes is practice. Well, practice and lots of listening, and lots of gigging. But there's nothing superhuman about my playing (far from it, really). I've got a lot of experience, and everytime I pick up my bass, I'm determined to learn something. And I'm determined to make music - even if it's whole notes - to play with passion, and to mean every note I play.
You can do that.
I'm only 34, but I like that music!
It is not unrealistic to think you could play at my level! First, you've never heard me play - I'm nothing special - and second, all it takes is practice. Well, practice and lots of listening, and lots of gigging. But there's nothing superhuman about my playing (far from it, really). I've got a lot of experience, and everytime I pick up my bass, I'm determined to learn something. And I'm determined to make music - even if it's whole notes - to play with passion, and to mean every note I play.
You can do that.
Originally posted by Pacman
Hey Wanna be,
I'm only 34, but I like that music!
It is not unrealistic to think you could play at my level! First, you've never heard me play - I'm nothing special - and second, all it takes is practice. Well, practice and lots of listening, and lots of gigging. But there's nothing superhuman about my playing (far from it, really). I've got a lot of experience, and everytime I pick up my bass, I'm determined to learn something. And I'm determined to make music - even if it's whole notes - to play with passion, and to mean every note I play.
You can do that.
I'm 40. But young at heart!
I appreciate the words of encouragement too, from everyone.
Odd, there is not another musical instrument forum that has the shear volume of users and knowledge that this one has. It is as if there is a special brotherhood that bass players belong to. Talkbass truly is unique. I have found many drum & guitar discussion forums but they are dwarfed by Talkbass.
Within the week, I will be a Sponsoring Member. I will most likely change my name too since it should be more like novice_bassist now or poser_bassist (I feel like I need a promotion...)
PACMAN, you do have a high level of talent. I looked at your profile and then found out more about the USAF Band of the West. You must have at least this much talent:
Invalid Link Removed
I am going to reread the entire PACMAN scale method again and begin using that as part of my practice routine.
My coworker garage band now wants to play "Josie" by Steely Dan. I want to play "Josie" by Blink182 however. That sliding double-stop is killing me.
Maybe I should leave it out altogether and claim that I was "improvising".
Pacman & Bruce, what were your most frustrating moments when learning to play bass? What walls did you run into?
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,409
- 9,867
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
I bump into walls all the time!
Most frustrating moment? Very recently, when I figured out how much time I've wasted, screwing around, not getting my act together and really working on being the best musician I can be.
That and trying to learn not to worry about everyone else. Who cares about all that sh*t that Patitucci can play? Who cares how fast Wooten can double thumb? What matters is getting the music that's inside me out. And I've been ignoring it for YEARS, trying to be someone else.
Good thing this road never ends, huh?
Most frustrating moment? Very recently, when I figured out how much time I've wasted, screwing around, not getting my act together and really working on being the best musician I can be.
That and trying to learn not to worry about everyone else. Who cares about all that sh*t that Patitucci can play? Who cares how fast Wooten can double thumb? What matters is getting the music that's inside me out. And I've been ignoring it for YEARS, trying to be someone else.
Good thing this road never ends, huh?
I agree with that.
he's a great musician, sure, but I shudder to imagine people in the Bass Centre slapping away even faster than before thanks to him popularising double-thumbing......
about three years into learning bass I had a three-finger fingerstyle going, which allowed me to rip out the usual pentatonic/blues riffs at high speed-
easy to do, and probably sounded/looked quite impressive.
however, I always felt frustrated at being unable to improvise freely on the spot.
I've noticed since starting to learn modes that not only are fills easier to play but basslines to songs are easier to remember- understanding the harmonic role of a note, rather than just remembering what it is parrot-fashion.
Billy Sheehan remarks in one of his videos that "the fingerboard looked this big"! when he finally understood modes (he didn't know the mode names in that video though), and I see what he meant.
Jon Packard, hmm, maybe he can play, maybe he can't either way he has a good head on his shoulders and that is all you can ask of anyone these days.
p.s. Jon can I get my head back.
p.s. Jon can I get my head back.
Boy, do I hear that. It's too easy to spend too much time chasing one musical bus or another, and never quite catching it. (I came up in the '70s, so one of those buses had "JACO" all over it.) At 46, I'm finally starting to feel like I'm getting a clue how to play who I am. You're absolutely right: the whole deal is to play your own thing, not somebody else's. To me that's what a good musical education is supposed to point you toward.
Amen.
I really enjoy playing - pretty much any music - I love creating and just playing basslines. I try to write supportive parts that enhance what is already there or I try to play what was written with my own feel - I try to make it mine within the boundaries of the song. I just love 'completeing' a song.
Only very recently has this really occured to me. I always thought that you had to be the song writer or even to write your won bass parts to 'speak your voice', but it just isnt so.
Anyway, major patterns... I'd much rather avoid stretching my fingers if at all possible, why on earth would I want to do that?! ...but the point is you need both. You need every note at every location on the fretboard, the fewer hand movements you make the better I think. Efficiency - I alwyas loved those bass players who barely move ther hands, but who are laying down a big fat groove!!
